| description | Protein which interacts with any form of the fat-soluble vitamin D or protein whose transcription is regulated by the biologically active form of vitamin D, i.e. 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol) also termed calcitriol. Active calcitriol is derived from ergosterol (produced in plants) and 7-dehydrocholesterol (produced in the skin). Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) are formed by UV irradiation of ergosterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol, respectively, and processed by the same enzymatic pathway in the body to D2-calcitriol and D3- calcitriol. Deficiency in vitamin D leads to the disease rickets, in children, and osteomalacia, in adults |
